More than 190 young graduates from the Gauteng and North West Provinces will enter the tourism workforce as City and Guild certified Chefs.
The graduates participated in the National Youth Chefs Training Programme (NYCTP) funded by the Department of Tourism and implemented in collaboration with the South African Chefs Association (SA Chefs).
Launched in 2011, the National Youth Chefs Training Programme (NYCTP) is part of the broader objectives of the National Tourism Sector Strategy to address skills shortages in the hospitality industry sector by capacitating unemployed youth.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony at the O R Tambo Cultural Precinct in Wattville - Ekurhuleni, Deputy Minister of Tourism Ms. Elizabeth Thabethe urged learners to further capacitate themselves beyond their newly acquired NYCTP qualification to ensure their success in the industry.
“Amidst the high unemployment figures, Government remains committed to investing in empowering the youth through skills development programmes to create employment opportunities.”
“You are among a select few who were afforded an opportunity to participate in the National Youth Chefs Training Programme (NYCTP). I urge you to continue to capacitate yourselves beyond this point in order to ensure you become entrepreneurs and future employment creators,” said Deputy Minister Thabethe.
The learners from Gauteng and the North West provinces are part of the 488 graduates from across the country who successfully completed the 10-month training course with the South African Chefs Association.
The training comprised of 30% theory and 70% work integrated learning, and learners received certificates and diplomas accredited by City & Guilds in Food Preparation and Cooking.
“More than 2000 youth have graduated from the NYCTP initiative, since its initiation a few years ago. A large majority of these graduates are working in world class establishments in the South Africa and abroad, whilst others continue to run successful enterprises in their localities.”
“I am proud to be associated with an initiative that propels the youth of our country to greater heights. I am confident that the NYCTP initiative will continue to produce world-class chefs and entrepreneurs,” concluded Deputy Minister Thabethe.
The graduation ceremony culminated with an Imbizo that afforded Deputy Minister Thabethe and the executives from the City of the Ekurhuleni to engage with the community about the Youth Skills Development Programmes and other opportunities available in the tourism sector.
Enquiries:
Mr Blessing Manale
Chief Director Communications and Departmental Spokesperson
Department of Tourism
Telephone: +27 (0) 12 444 6607
Cell: +27 (0) 66 487 8867